Julia stooped and lifted the chest, the better to examine it, then she thought she saw some object on the floor. She carried her light there, and found that it was an old portfolio of brown leather, which seemed to have been hidden beneath the chest, and appeared to have been there for some years, for the dust was thick around it. Julia uttered a joyful cry and seized the portfolio. "What is it?" said Marguerite, "what have you got there?" "Something tells me that in this portfolio I shall find that for which I am looking." "This portfolio? O my God! where was it, then?" "Silence--come, let us shut this door again." Julia left the closet, shutting the door, and when she had replaced the lamp on the table, hastened to examine the portfolio and the papers which it held. Meanwhile, Marguerite, still uneasy, remained listening near the door, but while doing so she watched Julia, whose features expressed the most lively agitation. Suddenly a cruel joy flashed in the young Italian's eyes, and she dropped on a seat near the table, exclaiming,-- "I shall be avenged." "But who can that portfolio belong to?" said Marguerite. "To an unfortunate man whom your master murdered." "Murdered! ah, madame, what are you saying?" "Yes, everything proves it to me. This was the chamber in which he was lodged, because the secret passage would assist the murderer in the perpetration of his crime. The unfortunate man had, no doubt, visited this closet, and, without divining the misfortune which awaited him, had judged it prudent to hide under the chest his portfolio, which contains the proofs of an important secret." "Ah, you make me shudder, madame." Julia continued to examine the papers. Joy, surprise, hope, vengeance, were expressed in turn on her face. "At last his fate is in my hands," exclaimed she, "perfidious man, to have betrayed me; tremble lest I inflict upon you torments more cruel than those you have made me suffer. And you, his odious accomplice, I will see that the marquis knows the monster who has assisted him in his amours." Tremblingly Marguerite listened to Julia. The latter put back the papers in the portfolio and carefully hid it in her bosom, then resuming her mantle she prepared to depart. "And Blanche," said the good old woman, "you have not told me more about Blanche, madame." "Reassure yourself," answered Julia in a solemn tone, "Blanche's condition will now be changed, you will see her again. Good-by, my good woman, keep the closest silence in regard to the portfolio; Blanche's fate depends upon it." "Fear nothing, madame." "I'm going down without a light; Touquet should be in his room by now." "If you should meet him?" "I will not make the least noise." "But it is necessary that I should go with you to open the door." "You need not, I can open it myself."